Overview

The Public Administration programme at Harvard University is a rigorous two-year course designed for aspiring leaders with significant real-world experience. This master degree provides a flexible academic framework that allows students to integrate various disciplines into a personalised study plan. By focusing on management, ethics, and quantitative analysis, the curriculum prepares graduates for high-level responsibilities across public, private, and non-profit sectors.

Why Public Administration at Harvard University?

Students benefit from an interdisciplinary environment at the Harvard Kennedy School, where they can cross-register for courses at other graduate schools, including MIT Sloan and the Fletcher School at Tufts. The faculty consists of influential thinkers and practitioners who have served in government administrations, led international negotiations, and founded global learning labs. This connection to world-class expertise ensures that the learning experience is grounded in both advanced scholarship and practical application.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 61926 per year
National fee: USD 61926 per year
Local fee: USD 61926 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum requires the completion of 64 credits, including a specific concentration and core distribution requirements. Modules may include:

Negotiating Across Differences
Economics of Climate Change and Environmental Policy
Public Problem Solving with Generative AI
Economics and Quantitative Analysis
Management, Leadership, and Decision Sciences
Public Ethics and Political Institutions
Policy Analysis
Financial Management
Negotiation

Careers with Public Administration

Graduates from this programme often move into senior leadership roles within diverse sectors. While many pursue careers in the public sector and government agencies, a significant number of graduates find success in the private sector, particularly those who complete concurrent degrees in law or business. The programme is specifically designed to help professionals transition into roles with greater responsibility, focusing on solving complex public problems through entrepreneurial and strategic approaches. Common destinations include international organisations, non-profit leadership, and policy consultancy firms.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Economics and Quantitative Analysis

Management and Leadership

Public Ethics and Political Institutions

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-09-02 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-12-01 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

101

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

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Credits

64 SCH

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Cambridge, United States

Disciplines

Public Administration View 596 other Masters in Public Administration in United States

This information is based on LinkedIn alumni data for graduates from 2018 to 2024 and may not fully represent all career outcomes

Total alumni

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Academic requirements

GRE^®

Required

GMAT

Required

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

101

Schedule TOEFL®

IELTS

Prepare for Your English Test

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Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

Online application

$100 USD application fee

Essays, which vary by program

Additional analytical and quantitative résumé or statement, which vary by program

Three strong letters of recommendation from individuals in academia or other professional sectors who know you well and can tell us about your qualifications for our programs

Academic transcripts that include your institution's name, course names, grades you received, and proof of your degree (if received)

Standardized test scores (GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS, and Cambridge English), which vary by program

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

61926 USD / year

≈ 61926 USD / year
Out-of-State

61926 USD / year

≈ 61926 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

61926 USD / year

≈ 61926 USD / year

Living costs

Cambridge

United States

1814 - 3756 USD / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Financing

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Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Public Administration.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying Business & Management

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Living costs

Cambridge

Financing

Funding

Need help with your student visa?

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

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